Sword, iron with brass pommel

France or Italy; middle of 14th century
L: 105.5 cm

In 1365, Pierre de Lusignan – King of Cyprus and titular King of Jerusalem – captured the Egyptian port of Alexandria. His men refused to carry on toward Cairo, however, and before the young Mamluk sultan al-Malik al-Ashraf Shaban and his guardian managed to come to the aid of the city, the Christians had departed.

Some of the European weapons that had been taken or left were hung in Alexandria’s arsenal as trophies and given Arabic inscriptions. This one was donated by one of Shaban’s officers, Sayf al-Din al-Ukuz al-Malik Ashraf, in 769 H (1367-1368), but was later taken to Istanbul.